Sulphur, Okla.– K9 Officer Boomer of Chickasaw National Recreation Area is retiring this month after 56 dog years of service. Boomer was first recruited to work for the park in 2011 after completing narcotics detection training.
“He has been instrumental in helping detect illegal drugs in his home park, the local community, and on special assignment to other National Park Service units,” said a press release from the park on his recent retirement.
Boomer has held a number of certifications from the State of Oklahoma, the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association, and the American Police Canine Association, as well as other associations and agencies.
Some of his favorite duties included performing demonstrations for local schools and community groups. He also enjoyed working with his colleagues in the Murray County Sheriff’s Department, the Sulphur Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Davis Police Department, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation.
“Boomer also enjoyed traveling to other areas to assist enforcement efforts at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Park, Wind Cave National Park, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, and Black Hills, Boise, and Challis National Forests. He also would assist the U.S. Postal Service on request,” the department added.
Now, Boomer plans on spending the next few weeks giving his tips of the trade to his successor, K9 Officer Rex, before settling into his retirement.
He will remain in the Sulphur area, where he plans to spend more time with his family, receive as many belly rubs as he can guilt them into providing, chase squirrels, and continue to be a very good boy.
For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at (580)622-7234.
